Rally against cuts to programs for persons with disabilities Friday - Grande Prairie

By Jeff Henson, Grande PrairieA re-allocation of funding within the province's Persons with Developmental Disabilities program has sparked a public outcry across Alberta.A number of rallies against the changes have been planned for tomorrow, including one over the noon hour in the parking lot of Junction Point here in Grande Prairie.Despite a $5-million increase in operational funding for the PDD program, the Community Access Supports program within that will see a $39-million decrease this year.And Heather Haiste with Public Interest Alberta says that's not the only program that will see less funding."They're also looking at cutting respite services for families, and they're also looking at cutting family managed services and support homes for people that are functioning in the community we live in. It's very significant, the cutbacks."Haiste figures the cutbacks could reach as high as $45-million for the Northwest region.Another rally is also being planned for the steps of the Alberta Legislature.Read the article at the HQ Grande Prairie.